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Larkin & Lacey

When despicable Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio was indicted in 2007 on federal charges of ignoring a judge’s orders to stop racial profiling, many people thought at long last, this man would finally get his comeuppance.

Donald Trump put all that to a halt after he pardoned Arpaio, assuring that he wouldn’t see one day inside prison. The ruling was formally validated by U.S. Judge Susan Bolton.

Two Arizona newsmen Jim Larkin and Michael Lacey weren’t very surprised. Trump and his buddy Arpaio have been in lock step for years. When Trump drove the “Birther” bus, Arpaio happily rode shotgun. The lie, invented by individuals of the right-wing fringe, which accuses President Barack Obama of being born in Kenya, is still being pushed by Arpaio to this day.

Larkin and Lacey have a much deeper and darker chapter in their lives when it comes to dealing with the worst sheriff in America. Larkin and Lacey, former owners of the Phoenix New Times spent well over a decade exposing Arpaio for the corrupt and vile human being he is.

Arpaio was and is a horrible person for sure. Some of his most despicable acts while serving as sheriff include racial profiling, the constant harassment of Hispanic people, questionable arrests, countless unexplained deaths in his jails, tortures and forcing inmates to stay in the notorious tent city, where temperatures could reach 120 degrees. And that’s just the beginning.

There were many questions about missing jail funds, sex crimes against children that were never addressed. But his zeal of targeting Latinos led to his ultimate downfall. The Melendez vs. Arpaio class action lawsuit is what really exposed Arpaio’s racist playbook. Read more: Phoenix New Times | Wikipedia and Michael Lacey | Crunchbase

“Sadly, he probably wouldn’t have served a day in jail anyway had Trump not stepped in,” according to Lacey. “It just shows how the justice system has failed people.”

Arpaio leaves behind a legacy of pure evil. He ignored court orders, tortured people and other equally despicable things and he’s not being held accountable, says Lacey.

But Larkin and Lacy know the former sheriff better than most.

The Arizona State University drop-outs built a newspaper due to their outrage over the Kent State killings. The executives sold the conglomerate in 2013. Incidentally, they also won a $3.75 million lawsuit against Arpaio and Maricopa County.

Instead of pocketing the money, the duo used it to establish the Frotera Fund. An organization to help promote migrant rights around the state of Arizona.